Feeding and disintegrating apparatus for fertilizers.



Patented Nov. 20. I900. J. F. BUSSELLS.

FEEDING AND DISINTEGBATING APPARATUS FOR FEBTILIZERS.

(No Model.)

(Application filed May 2, 1899.)

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Inventor.-

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Attor'n 9 UNITED STATES FFICE.

JOSEPHUS F. BUSSELLS, OF IRVINGTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN PROCESS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FEEDING AND DISINTEGRATING APPARATUS FOR FERTILIZER S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,350, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed May 2,1899. Serial No. 715,292. (No model.)

serial to pressing apparatus, cooking apparatus, or processing apparatus.

The object of the invention is to combine with a force-feed device for the several classes of apparatus named a preparatory crusher or disintegrator, so that any kind of vegetable.

or animal matter-such as garbage, slaughter-house refuse, and fishmay be handled on a large scale and fed in uniform and regular quantity to the apparatus for the manufacture of commercial fertilizers.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the crusher or disintegrator. Fig. 3 is a view showing the relation of the stationary knife-plate to the revoluble prongs of the crusher. Fig. A shows a top View of the comb or clearer-blades of the crusher.

The letter A designates the main cylinder of the apparatus,which may be a spiral flanged press or a combined cooking and pressing apparatus, such as that shown in United States Letters Patent granted me May 17, 1898, No. 604,348, or a processing apparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide for such apparatus an improved force-feed device which will supply or convey the material to be treated in proper condition and in uniform and regular quantity.

The device for feeding in the substance to be dried is constructed and arranged to permit the entrance to the cylinder of a contin uous supply of fish or other material to be treated and'at the same time to prevent the escape at'such device of any steam or hot air from the cylinder. This device consists of a horizontally-placed tube L, whose end connects with an opening I in the cylinder-wall. The other end of the feed-tube is closed by a head I, and a shaft m extends horizontally within the feed-tn be and projects through the head I and on the outside has a pulley m to be driven by a belt or chain. ing-screw n is on the shaft m. This construction of horizontal tube with one end closed and its other end connecting with the cylinder on the side or top insures that a supply of the matter may be continuously fed into the cylinder under conditions that will keep the feed-tube so choked or jammed full of matter as to prevent escape of steam-pressure or hotair from the cylinder and enable considerable pressure to be maintained within the cylinder. Mounted upon and combined with this feed-neck is an improved disintegrator. The upper side of the feed-neck has an opening b, and the feed-passage b in the bottom of thedisiniegratorregisters with said opening. A hopper O is mounted on a case D, containing a pronged cylinder revolving in a vertical plane. Said cylinder is made up of a series of pronged disks 6. The disks are bored centrally and all mounted on a shaft f, to which they are made fast by a key g. The shaft has hearings in the walls of the case D, and on the exterior of the case one end of the shaft has a suitable pulley or sprocket-wheel it. Each disk has prongs i, which are preferably integral with the rim. These prongs are tapered on two sides 2" to a point, as shown in Fig. 2, and on the other two sides parallel with the hat faces of the disk the prongs have a beveled base 2' parallel sides i and a beveled end 2 The thickness of the prongs at a cross-section through the said'parallel sides 7? is less than the thickness of the disk, and an open space j is left between the prongs of two adjoining disks.

At the base of the hopper C, at one side and between it and the top of the case D, is a knife'plate k, with its edge of hard steel presented to the points or ends 2' of the prongs as they revolve past. This knife-plate It has cross-slots or elongated openings k forscrews, by which it is firmly confined to its position, and these enable the blade to be adjusted relative to the path of the said revoluble points or ends i A down-curved feed-passage b extends below the knife-plate, and below the pronged cylinder is a comb N, made up of separate toothed plates l. Each of these A compress- 45 i pronged cylinder mounted in said case and comprises a tooth projecting horizontally and having a top with a beveled edge and an extremity or beveled end 0 slightly curved upward. The under side of each tooth recedes atp from the point end and inclines down and forms one side of the feed-passage b. The vertical sides of each toothed plate Zare routed out on a curved line, as at q, so that when two plates are close together, as seen in Fig. 4, there is formed between them a channel qr passage g, through which the prongst' of the cylinder sweep after crossing the feedpassage 19 and when on their up movement. The slightly up-curved ends 0 of the combteeth take close up under the circular part-of the disks 2, and thus a comb of this construction serves to scrape and remove from the cylinder-prongs all adhering material. Each tooth at its heel end has on top a flat seat 1", which fits close under the bottom edge s of the wall of the case, and a bolt t extends transversely through the heel end of all the teeth and secures them firmly to their position in the case.

The matter that is to be treated is supplied by any suitable means to the hopper C, where it is acted on by the prongst'of the cylinderand the knife-plate k and disintegrated and put into the condition of a uniformly broken-up mass suitable to enter the force-feed device. This broken-up mass passes down the feed passage b and through the opening 17 into the horizontal feed-neck L. The matter will fill the horizontal tube L and become choked or jammed therein, as already described, to such a degree as to prevent back escape of steam,

hot air, or whatever pressure may be in the cylinder A.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a feed-tube having an opening in its upper side, a case mounted over said feed-tube and having a feed-passage registering with said opening, a revoluble whose prongs have a path of revolution through said feed-passage, and a comb provided with horizontally-projecting teeth each having a slightly-upwardly-curved end, and a receding and downwardly-inclined under side forming one side'of the said feed-passage as set forth.

2. The combination of a feed-tube having an opening in its upper side, a case mounted over said feed-tube and havinga feed-passage registering with said opening, a revoluble pronged cylinder mounted in said case and whose prongs have a path of revolution through said feed-passage, and a combN made up of separate toothed plates Z each of which consists of a tooth projecting horizontally and having a top with a beveled edge whose extremity is slightly curved upward and takes close under the body-surface of the cylinder, the under side of each tooth receding and inclining downwardly from such extremity and form-ing a side of thesaid feedpassage, and a bolt 25 extending transversely through the teeth and securing them in the case, as and for the purpose set forth.

feed-tube having in its upper side an opening; a case mounted over the feed-tube and having a down-curved feed-passage registering with said opening; a shaft extending horizontally through said case; a cylinder made up of a series of pronged disks centrally mounted on said shaft and keyed thereto and the prongs having a path of revolution through said down -curved feed passage; a comb whose heel end is secured at the case-wall and whose points of the prongs asvthey sweep past, said knife-plate being formed with elongated openings adapted to receive fastening devices by which it may be adjustably held, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPHUS F, BUSSELLS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE KOETHER, CHARLES E. MANN, Jr.

3. The combination of a horizontally-placed teeth project horizontally toward the said and top of case and presenting its edge to the 

